Family Members' Experiences of a Person-Centered Information and Communication Technology-Supported Intervention for Stroke Rehabilitation (F@ce 2.0): Qualitative Analysis.
Gunilla Eriksson, Kajsa Söderhielm, Malin Erneby and 1 others
PMID 40315427WHAT IT FOUND
Seven family members of stroke survivors said the team and SMS reminders in F@ce 2.0 added to usual rehab reduced worry and nagging, but wanted updated goals, one information hub, and video calls.
It describes experiences, not proof of benefit.
Key findings
01Family members said the rehabilitation team taking responsibility for follow-up and showing how to do activities made them feel safer and reduced anxiety.
02Daily SMS reminders were described as reducing the family member’s need to nag, and some participants said the messages led to shared reflection when the survivor needed help with the phone.
03Participants suggested that goal questions should update when goals are achieved or too hard, that information should be in one place, and that video calls could help communication and family involvement.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study included only seven family members, so it cannot show how common these experiences are. It was a qualitative experience study, not a test of whether F@ce 2.0 improves recovery, burden, or family life. F@ce 2.0 was added to usual home rehabilitation, so the effects of the team, goals, SMS reminders, and usual care cannot be separated. Recruitment for these interviews began late in the larger project, so few family members were represented. All interviews were by telephone because of the pandemic, and participants had not met the interviewer before, which may have limited trust and depth. The interviews followed a structured questionnaire, which may have caused fatigue and made some topics feel already covered. The findings come from Sweden, where smartphone use is high, so they may not fit other settings.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The supplied text does not report a funding source.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these positive experiences as evidence that F@ce 2.0 improves stroke recovery or reduces caregiver burden. The study interviewed seven family members about a team-based intervention added to usual rehabilitation, so the contribution of any single component cannot be separated.